Submarine boat.



S. G. ROO KMAN. sumumms non.

APPLICATION IILBD HA8. 3, 1905. RENEWED OOT. 1'7, 1907.

998,204. Patented July 18,1911. 2 SHEETS-$153111 1.

SOREN o. RooKMAN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SUIBMARINE BGAT.

Specification of Letters Patent. I P t nt d July 18, 1911.

Application filed Harch 3, 1905, Serial No. 248,226. Renewed October 17,1907. Serial No. 397,918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SoREN C. ROCKMAN].

a citizen .of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Submarine Boats,

of which the following is a'specification.

One object of my invention is to so construct a submarine boat that thesame may be run for an indefinite period while submerged at such adistance below the surface as to be measurably free from the effects ofwave action, a further object being to provide for the conning of theboat while under way by a commander, who, while subjected to but aminimum of exposure, has aclear view of the surface of the sea, and whocan readily drop below the surface when exposure becomes dangerous, suchsubmergence being efiected without corresponding fall of the hull oftlfeboat.

These objects I attain in the mannerhere inafter set forth, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a View,partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a submarine boatconstructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a transversesectionof the same on the line M, Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional planview on the line bb,

Fig. 2.

1 represents the hull of-the boat, which, in the present instance, is ofsubstantially cir cular cross section, flattened atthe top and taperedat the ends, although it should be understood that my invention is notlimit-ed to any particular shapeor constructionef hull,..so long as thesame is properly calculated to withstand the strains to likely to besubjected.

At any suitable point in the length of the hull,'preferably about midwayof the same, I form, on the top of said" hull, port and starboard hoods2, each hood presenting-an inwardly projecting tubular neck 3, whichserves as a bearing for one of the hollow trunnions 4, of a tubularconning tower 5, the latter being thereby pivoted to the hoods, so thatit can be raised to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, or can beswung downwardly and rearwardly to any desired extent. More. than one ofthese conning towels may be used? ifdesired, in boats of large size.

The conning tower is of such height that when its top is exposed abovethe surface of which it is low the surface without risk ofdefiectionfrom its proper course by reason of such wave action, and without theexercise of the constant vigilance and expenditure of power necessary tocounteract the effects of such wave action. The commander of the vessel,occupying a position in the conning tower, can have a free view of thesurface of the sea, and can maneuver his boat more effectively than bythe use of a periscope, or than if it was necessary to bring the boat tothe surface in order to make an observation, and then to sink the boatto the running le'diil again. The upper end of the conning tower isprovided with properly glazed openings 6, and it may be armored so as towithstand the fire of the machine guns or secondary battery of a vesselwhich is being attacked. v The commander of the-boat can readilywithdraw beneath the surface by swinging the conning tower rearwardly onits pivots, a suitable capstan 7, operated by an electric motor 8 or itsequivalent, serving to pull the conning tower down and another capstan9, operated by an electric motor 10, or its equivalent, serving to aidthe natural tendency which the conning tower has, by reason of itsbuoyancy, to assume a vertical position, this latter operation beingalso, if desired, facilitated by the action of a properly shielded screwpropeller 11, projecting from the rear of the conning tower aiidoperated by an electric motor, or its equiva lent, on the ilnside of thesame. The conning tower 5 has, at the base and on the forward side, aconning hood 13, which can be used for conning purposes when the toweris lowered and the boat is running awash.

The joints between the hollow trunnions of the conning tower and thenecks 3 of the opposite hoods, are preferably provided with s'tuflingboxes to prevent leakage, one of the trunnions being closed at the endby a watertight door ll and the other by a plate 15, having a stuffingbox through which passes a tube 1'6 communicating with an air duct orpipe 17, which extends up through the conning tower to a point near thetop of the same, so that when the boat is running with/the conning towerraised this pipe or duct will serve as an intake for fresh air, the tube16 being bent downardly through the hood so that it may be connected, atits inner end, with the pump whereby a supply of fresh air is drawn intothe boat. Contained within the pipe 16 is another pipe 18, whichconnuunicates with a pipe or duct 19, the latter also extending upthrough the conning tower to a point near the top of the same, so as toprovide for the discharge of foul air and gases from the hull, the innerend of said pipe 19 being in tended to be connected to the apparatuswhereby such foul air and gases are discharged. Both pipes will beprovided with suitable. inboard and outboard valves, so that they can beclosed both at their outer and inner ends, if desired. The pipes 16 and17 may be used alternately for the inflow of fresh air and for thedischargeof foul air, the pipes 18 and 19 serving simply for thedischarge of the waste gases from the engine.

Access to the conning tower is obtained through one of the hoods andhollow trun nions of said tower, a ladder 2O permitting access to thehood from the hull of the boat, and a ladder 21, on the inside of theconning tower, providing a means of reaching the top of the same, saidladder 21 leading to a platform 22, upon which the commander of the boatstands when the boat is in action,

-said platform being, preferably, provided with a watertight door, sothat it can be closed in case of injury to the upper or exposed part ofthe conning tower. A double protection against the flow of water intothe hull through the conning tower is thus provided, first by thewatertight platform 9.2, and again by the watertight door 14 whichcloses the end of the hollow trunnion 4-.

The boat is preferably equipped with two sets of power devices, namely,a gas or gasolene engine 23 for providing power when an outlet for thewaste gases is available, and an electric motor 2 for use when all partsof the boat are submerged.

The boat has a hollow keelson 26 which serves as a bilge, and can befilled with water for ballast-ing purposes, or emptied in order toincrease the buoyancy of the vessel when it is desired to rise to thesurface, and on each side of this hollow keelson are bilge tanks 27.

Tanks 80, for the storage of air, are suitably disposed along the sidesof the hull, and extending around the hull are bilge heels ll. The loweredges of the bilge heels ll are in the smile horizontal plane as thebottom of the main keel, so that they prevent the ti' 'n iing of theboat to port or starboard when it is resting on the bottom.

The conning tower will be equipped with all necessary electric wires,switches, speaking tubes, and the like, so that the commander cancommunicate with the crew of the vessel at all times, or can control thevarious motors directly where quick action is desired, as for instance,in the motor which pulls down the conning tower, the submergence of thisconning tower 'to a safe depth being efiected much more readily than thesubmergence of the entire boat from a position afloat or awash.

The natural buoyancy of the conning tower, when submerged, may besufficient to raise it to a vertical position independently of thehoisting devices provided for the purpose, or such buoyancy may be aidedby the lifting power of the screw propeller 11, the latter also serving;to resist, in a measure, the backward pressure of the water upon theconning tower whenthe latter is raised and the boat is under way, thusrelieving the hoisting devices of a corresponding amount of strain. Thebuoyancy of the conning tower also tends to retain it in its propermidship position, and thus tends to prevent rolling of the boat, whenthe same is submerged. In order to properly stay the conning towertransversely bars 33 are connected at their upper ends to the tower at asuitable point in its height, the lower ends hoods 2, at points in linewith the axis upon which the conning tower swings.

Of course, it will be understood that the boat is intended to beequipped with the appliances at present in use for the purpose ofindicating the course, the depth of sub mergence, etc., and fordischarging projec tiles, laying mines, and the like, orthe boat may, ifdesired, be used for peaceful commercial purposes, such as submarinesurveying, or as a life boat.

The shafts of the motto s which effect the raising and lowering of theconning tower are, preferably, provided with hand wheels 40, so as toprovide for the operation of these devices by hand in case of anyaccident. to the power operating mechanism.

The boatis preferably provided with a fixed conning hood, 4C1, forwardof the pivoted conning tower, for use when the boatis running afloat,and running forev and aft on the top of the hull are fins or flanges 42,which serve as guards for the conning tower when the latter has'beenlowered to the fullest extent.

The pipes, wires, etc., leading from the conning tower to the hull. maybe passed tl'irough the fixed frame of the water-tight door l t, orthrough the pipe 16.

Although I have s iown the conning tower as pivoted so as to swing in afore and aft plane, and altl'iough I prefer this construo tion, thetower may, if desired, be pivoted so as to swing athwartship, andalthough 1 prefe' in all. cases to use two hoods, and a t conning towerwith two trunnions, but a of these stay bars being pivoted at 34: to thesingle hood and a single trunnion may, if desired, be used.

The conning tower is of oval cross section, with its longer axis foreand aft, so as to provide the desired amount of spacewithin the towerwith the minimum of resistance to thepassage of the elevated towerthrough the water, and in order to protect the tower from injury due toimpact with floating ob- 1. A submarine boat having a conningtowerprojecting above the same to such an extent as to permit directobservation above the surface of the sea while the hull is so submergedas to be measurably free from wave action, said conning tower providing,at all times, a passage through which the commander can enter or leavethe same, and

ventilating devices extending into said connlng tower from the hullthrough the supports for said conning tower, substantially as specified.

2. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivotally mounted thereon,and providing, in different positions of adjustment, a passage throughwhich the commander can enter or leave the same, in combination withventilating devices passing through the pivot of the tower,substantially as specified.

3. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto andproviding, in different positions of adjustment, a passage wherebythecommander can enter or leave the same, said conning tower havingventilating devices passing through the pivot, and also having a movabletop hood, substantially as specified.

4. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto by "means ofa hollow sine trunnion communicating with the hull and through which thecommander can enter or leave the tower, substantially as specified.

5. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto and having amovable top hood, an intermediate door, and a bottom door through whichthe commander can enter or leave thetower, substantially as specified. I

6. A submarine boat having a conning tower projecting above the hull soas to permit direct observation above the surface of the sea while thehull is so submerged as to be measurably free from wave action, saidconning tower-communicating with the hull through a movable door andhaving within it and above the door communicating with the hull aworking platform with a movable door, substantially as specified.

7. Asubmarine boat having a conning tower projecting above the hull soas to permit directobservation above the surface of the sea while thehall is sosubmerged as to be free from wave action, a water-tight doorfor closing the communicating passagebetween the hull and said conningtower, the latter containing a working platform wholly within itselfwith a water-tight door, substantially as specified.

8. A submarine boathaving a conning tower pivoted to the hull so as toswing in a fore and aft plane, devices fore and aft of said tower forraising and lowering the same and pivoted lateral stays connecting towerand-hull, substantially as speci- 9. A submarine boat having a hollowprojecting hood thereon, and a conning tower having a transverselyprojecting hollow trunnion pivoted to said hood and providing meanswhereby the commander can enter or leave the conning tower,substantially as specified.

10. A submarine boat having a hollow projecting hood with neck thereon,and a conning tower having a transversely projecting hollow trunnionpivoted in said neck and providing a means whereby the commander canenter or leave the tower, substantially as specified.

11. A submarine boat having on the top a of the hull apair of hoods, anda conning tower having transversely projecting trunnions pivoted to saidhoods, one of said trunnions providing a means whereby the commander canenter or leave the tower, substantially as specified.

12. A submarine boat having on the top of the hull a pair of hoods withprojecting necks, and a conning tower having transversely projectingtrunnions pivoted in said necks, one of said trunnions providing a meanswhereby the commander can enter or leave the tower, substantially asspecified,

13. A submarine boat having a hull with projecting hood, a conning towerhaving a hollow trunnion pivoted to said hood, and ventilating pipespassing through said trunnion, substantially as specified.

14. A submarine boat having a hull with projecting hood, a conning towerwith 1101- low trunnion pivoted to said hood, and closed at its innerend, and ventilating pipes passing through said closed end of thetrunnion, substantially as specified.

15.- A submarine boat having a hull with projecting hood, and a conningtower having a hollow trunnion pivoted to said hood, and I, having itsinnerendclosed by a watertight door, substantially as specified.

16. A submarine'boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, andprovided with lateral stays likewise pivoted concentric with the pivotalaxis of the tower, substantially as specified.

17. A submarine boat having a hull with projecting hoods, a conningtower having trunnions pivoted to said hoods, and stays connected tosaid conning tower and pivoted to the hoods in line axially with thepivotal axis of the tower, substantially as specified.

'18. A. submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, andhaving capstan and cable connections with opposite sides of the same forpositively raising and lowering the tower, and swinging braceconnections with the other sides of the tower, substantially asspecified.

1.). It submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, a powerdevice on the inside of the hull for raising or lowering said tower, andmeans whereby the operation of said tower device can be controlled fromthe interior of the conning tower, substantially as specified.

20. A submarine boat having a pivoted connin tower, capstan and cableconnections with said conning tower on the outside of the hull, and amotor for said capstan located on the inside of the hull, substantiallyas specified.

21. A submarine boat having a pivoted conning tower, capstan and cableconnections with said conning tower on the outside of the hull, a motorfor said capstan located on the inside of the hull, and means wherebythe operation of said motor can be controlled from the interior of thetower, sub stantially as specified.

22. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, and havinga projecting guard fin on its forward side, and means for raisingandloweringsaid conning tower, substantially as specified.

23. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, so thatjtsfree end can be raised above or lowered beneath the surface of thewater, said conning tower having a conning hood which is raised intoposition as the conning tower is lowered, substantially as specified.

A submarine boat having a. conningtower pivoted thereto, so that itsfree end can be raised above or lowered beneath the surface of the*ater, and a screw propeller carried by said conning tower, and aidingto raise the same or maintain itin the raised position, substantially asspecified.

it submarine boat having a fixed conning hood, and a pivoted conningtower, through whose pivotthe commander can enter or leave the tower,and means for retaining: said lower in different positions ofadjustment, substantially as specified.

ir submarine boat having a conning aaaaoa tower consisting of a singlehollow tube or mast, pivoted to the hull of ,the boat,

through which pivot the commander can pass to or from the hull, saidtube or mast having a conning chamber at its free end, and means forpositively raising and lowering said hollow tube or mast, substantiallyas specified.

27. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, so that itsfree end can be raisedabove or lowered beneath the surface of the water,said conningtower having means ofentrance and exit for the commander,both atthe free end and through the pivot, substantially as specified.

28. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, andaccessible from the interior of the hull in its different'positions ofadjustment, means for raising and lowering said conning tower, and meanswhereby said raising and lowering devices can be controlled from theinterior of the conning tower in any position of the latter,substantially as specified. 29, A submarine boat having a conning towerpivoted thereto, so that its free end can be raised above or loweredbeneatl the surface of the water, said conning tower being of oval crosssection with its longer axis fore and aft and having ventilating pipesat front and rear, substantially specified.

30. A submarine boat having a conning tower pivoted thereto, so that itsfree end can be raised above or lowered beneath the surface of thewater, said conning tower being of oval cross section with its longeraxis fore and aft, and being provided on the forward side with aprojecting guard fin, substantially as specified.

31. A. submarine boat having a conning tower projecting above-the hulland in permanent connnunication therewith, a working platform withinsaid conning; tower, a movable door carried by said platform, andventilating pipes extending into said conning tower from the hull, saidpipes passing through said working platform outof contact with themovable door.

32. A subn'iarinc boat having a conning tower in permanent communicationwith the hull, said conning tower being substantially elliptical. incontour with its longest dimension lying fore and aft, ventilating pipesextending from the hull into said conning tower, said ventilating pipesbeing disposed fore and aft in said tower.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SOFiEII C. ROCKMAN.

ainan Cnisit, Jos. H. liiREIN.

patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the"Commissioner of Patents,

' Washingtoi

